Transmission control lever assembly

ABSTRACT

A control lever adjustably mounted on a transmission extends through an opening formed in the floor of a vehicle and through a floor-mounted insulator closing the opening. The insulator is preferably a molded block of resilient material that lowers the intensity of any sound waves passing therethrough to the interior of the vehicle while yielding to allow all necessary control movements of the lever. The insulator yieldably grips a portion of the lever above its mounting so that vibrations imparted to the lever are damped by the flexing of the material of the insulator. Preferably the lever has parts separated by vibration damping members to further reduce lever vibration.

Fitzpatrick 3,732,746 May 15,1973

TRANSMISSION CONTROL LEVER ASSEMBLY John D. Fitzpatrick, Warren, Mich.

General Motors Detroit, Mich.

Filed: July 29, 1971 Appl. No.: 167,329

Inventor:

Assignee: Corporation,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1937 Geyer ..74/473 P 4/1967Keller ..74/473 P UX 3,527,114 9/1970 Martz ..74/473 R PrimaryExaminer-Milton Kaufman Attorney-W. E. Finken et a1.

1 1 ABSTRACT A control lever adjustably mounted on a transmissionextends through an opening formed in the floor of a vehicle and througha floor-mounted insulator closing the opening. The insulator ispreferably a molded block of resilient material that lowers theintensity of any sound waves passing therethrough to the interior of thevehicle while yielding to allow all necessary control movements of thelever. The insulator yieldably grips a portion of the lever above itsmounting so that vibrations imparted to the lever are damped by theflexing of the material of the insulator. Preferably the lever has partsseparated by vibration damping members to further reduce levervibration.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures TRANSMISSION CONTROL LEVER ASSEMBLY Thisinvention relates to transmission controls and more particularly to atransmission control lever assembly featuring new and improved vibrationdamping and sound attenuating construction.

In transmission controls there are numerous devices for reducing thevibration and rattle of the manually operated control lever. Suchdevices, while effective to reduce lever vibration or buzz, do noteffectively absorb or attenuate noise entering the passenger carcompartment through the enlarged opening in the vehicle floor throughwhich the manual shift lever extends.

In this invention there is a shift lever assembly provided with specialresilient vibration dampers which drivingly interconnect two parts of ashift lever to reduce the transmittal of vibratory energy from thetransmission via the upper and lower parts directly into the passengercompartment. Cooperating with this is a resilient insulator, which ispreferably secured to the floor of the vehicle, to completely block theopening for the transmission control lever to substantially lower theintensity of sound entering the compartment through the opening. Theinsulator also provides a yieldable gripping force to hold the lever todamp mechanical vibrations imparted to the lower part of the lever bythe transmission, engine or other source. The gripping force is appliedto a part of the lower lever above the pivot mounting thereof so thatvibrator en- I ergy imparted to the lever will be effectively damped bythe material forming the insulator.

It is a feature and object of this invention to provide a new andimproved control lever assembly for a transmission having a resilientinsulator which covers a lever opening and which grips a part of themanual lever that is spaced from its pivot support to effectively damplever vibrations and to attenuate sound entering into a passengercompartment through the opening.

Another featureand object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved transmission control lever assembly having a sound absorbinginsulator formed by a block of resilient material which closes anopening in a vehicle for accommodating the manual lever; the insulatorhas an elongated passage therein through which the lever extends and theside walls forming the passage grip the lever so that the insulatoryieldably holds the lever and can flex to reduce vibratory energyimparted thereto.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent fromthe following detailed description and drawing in which: I

FIG. I is a side view of a transmission control assembly partly in crosssection.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of thetransmission control assembly of FIG.I.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1.

Turning now in greater detail'to the drawings there is shown in FIG. 1 avehicle power package formed by engine 1 and change-speed transmission3, which extends into the tunnel 5 formed in the floor of a vehicle. Thefloor has a generally rectangular opening formed therein through which atransmission manual lever 7 extends This opening has sufficientdimensions to allow free movement of the lever in conditioning thetransmission for its different forward and reverse speed ratios. Thislever has an upper part 9 which has fixed at its outer end a knob orhandle 11 and has a bellshaped lower portion 13 into which the end of alower part 15 extends. Axially spaced vibration damping rings 17 mountedon the end of the lower part 15 of the lever that extends into thebell-shaped portion 13 drivinglyconnect the two lever parts so that aforce applied to upper part 9 to change gear ratios is transmitted tothe lower part. The rings are preferably of a polyurethane resin havinginternal damping characteristics that dampen lever vibrations andthereby reduce the transmittal of vibratoryenergy between the lower andupper parts of the lever. The lower part 15 of the lever is mounted bypivot 19 for turning movement with respect to an axis formed by thepivot 19 on a control lever retainer 21. This retainer is in turnpivoted by pivot pins to upstanding projections formed on the case ofthe transmission 3. The lower part 15 of the lever terminates in a shaftfinger 25, which fits into a shaft 27 that is connected to one end of aselector lever 29. This selector lever is pivoted to the transmissioncase by pivot 31 so that it can be turned into and out of the plane ofthe drawing to operate a selector shaft 33 that is operatively connectedto the far end of the lever and which extends into the transmission casefor selecting particular gear ratios. The shifter shaft for shifting thetransmission gear ratios extends from the intermediate shaft 27, andbeing disposed on the other side of the transmission 3, is not shown inthe drawing.

In this invention there is a special insulator 37 preferably a cellularfoam product such as a molded block of urethane foam material havinghigh internal damping properties to convert vibratory energy into heat.The insulator 37 is formed with a peripheral flange 39, which is securedto the edge of the tunnel 5 that forms the opening. This resilientblock-like insulator projects upwardly from this flange and has sidewalls of a suitable thickness to effectively attenuate engine,transmission and other sounds, which enter into the passengercompartment through the opening. The insulator is formed with anelongated passage 41 through which the part 15 oflever 7 extends. Theannular wall forming this passage 41 provides an interior grippingsurface, which contacts a portion of the lower part 15 of the lever 7above the pivot 19 to yieldably hold and effectively reduce levervibration. To provide for protection of the insulator there is anelastomeric, convoluted upper boot 45, which has a reduced neck portionthat is fitted around the bell-shaped portion 13 of the upper part 15 oflever 7. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the upper boot 45 is secured tothe floor by a'retainer 47 that frames the lower convolution of the bootand by screws 49. These screws extend through the retainer 47, the lowerconvolutions of the boot 45, the floor carpeting 50, the flange 39 ofthe insulator 37, the flared edge of a convoluted lower boot 53 ofelastomeric ma terial, the edge of the floor forming the opening forlever 7 and into a lower frame-like retainer 55 disposed beneath thefloor forming the tunnel. A bezel 56 is disposed over the retainer 47and is also secured to the lower retainer by the screws 49 to provide afinely finished appearance. The lower boot is of an elastomeric materialand prevents the entry of water, dirt and foreign material into thecontrol assembly. This boot has a saddle portion that fits around thetransmission as best shown in FIG. 2. This portion of the lower boot issplit at 57 to facilitate installation. Suitable fasteners 59 securethese split parts together.

The insulator 37 in its preferred form, is in the general shape of atruncated cone. The upwardly extending cylindrical passage 41 is formedwith a cross sectional area slightly smaller than the cross sectionalarea of cylindrical lower part of the lever so that the lever is grippedon all contact surfaces by the walls of the passages and yieldably heldin position. The insulator has sufficient elasticity to permit themanual lever to be easily moved by the vehicle operator to the variouspositions necessary in changing the transmission speed ratios. Forexample, the lever 9 can be moved both longitudinally and laterally inan H pattern to actuate the selector lever 29 and other controls withthe insulator flexing to accommodate the movement and without taking apermanent set. By the yieldable gripping of the upper portion of thelower part of lever 7, the insulator effectively damps mechanicalvibrations imparted to the lever by the high molecular friction of thematerial of the insulator and by the passage of air into and out of thepores of the material of the insulator. Air is pressed out of the poresof the insulator material on compression and drawn into the pores onexpansion. Lever vibrations are further reduced by the internal dampingprovided by polyurethane rings 17. Since the insulator has reducedvibration, the rings 17 are more effective as vibration dampers than ifused alone since their damping is quite high at small amplitudes. Sincethe opening provided in the vehicle floor is closed by the insulator,sound waves are greatly attenuated in their passage through thematerial. This absorption of sound energy provides for a more pleasingenvironment for the operator and passengers within the vehicle. Theinsulator further provides thermal insulation and can be easily removedand replaced after termination of its service life.

Although a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown anddescribed, it will be understood that other embodiments will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art so that this invention is not to belimited to particular illustrations and disclosures but by the followingclaims:

What is claimed is:

1.,ln combination a vehicle having a floor with an opening therein, achange speed transmission disposed beneath said floor, a manual leveroperatively connected to said transmission which extends through saidopening, support means disposed beneath said floor for supporting saidmanual lever for limited pivotal movement to change the transmissionspeed ratios, a vibration and soundattenuating insulator operativelydisposed in said opening and completely filling said opening forreducing the intensity of sound energy passing through said opening frombeneath the vehicle floor to the space above the floor, said insulatorbeing formed by a block of resilient material which extends above saidfloor, said insulator having a centralized and elongated passageextending generally upwardly therethrough for receiving said lever sothat vibratory energy imparted thereto is converted into heat energy bythe internal damping properties of said insulator, said passage in therelaxed state being smaller in cross-section than the cross-section ofsaid lever so that said lever is peripherally gripped by the wall insaid insulator forming said passage, and fastener means for securingsaid insulator to said vehicle floor.

2. In a vehicle, a change-speed transmission, a floor extending abovesaid transmission, lever means operatively connected to saidtransmission, support means disposed below said floor for mounting saidlever means for longitudinal and lateral movement in conditioning saidtransmission for different speeds, an opening formed in said floorthrough which said lever means extends, a unitary block-like insulatorof resilient material secured to said floor to seal said opening toreduce the transmission of sound energy therethrough, said insulatorextending upward from said floor and terminating in an upper portionhaving an upwardly extending passage formed therethrough for receivingsaid lever means, said passage being smaller in cross-section than thecross-section of said lever to peripherally surround and grip said levermeans at points above said floor means so that vibratory energy impartedto said lever means is converted into heat by the internal damping ofsaid insulator 3. In combination, a control lever, support means formounting said lever for movement to predetermined positions, a partitiondisposed above said support means having an opening through which saidcontrol lever extends, a sound-attenuating and vibrationdampinginsulator fixed in and completely closing said opening for reducing thetransmission of sound therethrough, said insulator being a block ofresilient foam material extending upwardly from said partition having anupwardly extending opening therein which extends peripherally around aportion of said lever to yieldably grip said portion of the lever atpoints above said support means for damping vibrations imparted thereto,fastener means securing said insulator to said floor and elastomericboot means disposed around said opening and said insulator and securedto said lever to provide a protective covering therefor.

4. In combination, a transmission, a control lever operatively connectedto said transmission, support means mounting said lever for limitedmovement, a partition, an opening in said partition through which saidlever extends, a unitary block-like insulator of resilient materialfixed to said partition for closing said opening to reduce the passageof sound from said transmission and the areas beneath the partition tothe area above said partition, said insulator extending upwardly fromsaid partition and having an elongated neck portion disposed above saidpartition through which said lever extends, said neck portion having acrosssectional shape that in a relaxed state is smaller in area than thecross-sectional shape of said lever which yieldably grips said lever topermit said lever to be moved to various predetermined positions tochange the speed ratios of said transmission and to resiliently holdsaid lever in position to damp any vibrations imparted thereto by saidtransmission and other sources of vibratory energy, said lever beingformed from first and second portions, and resilient ring meansoperatively disposed between said first and second portions to transmita manual force applied to one end thereof and to dampvibrations'imparted to either of said portions.

1. In combination a vehicle having a floor with an opening therein, achange speed transmission disposed beneath said floor, a manual leveroperatively connected to said transmission which extends through saidopening, support means disposed beneath said floor for supporting saidmanual lever for limited pivotal movement to change the transmissionspeed ratios, a vibration and sound-attenuating insulator operativelydisposed in said opening and completely filling said opening forreducing the intensity of sound energy passing through said opening frombeneath the vehicle floor to the space above the floor, said insulatorbeing formed by a block of resilient material which extends above saidfloor, said insulator having a centralized and elongated passageextending generally upwardly therethrough for receiving said lever sothat vibratory energy imparted thereto is converted into heat energy bythe internal damping properties of said insulator, said passage in therelaxed state being smaller in cross-section than the cross-section ofsaid lever so that said lever is peripherally gripped by the wall insaid insulator forming said passage, and fastener means for securingsaid insulator to said vehicle floor.
 2. In a vehicle, a change-speedtransmission, a floor extending above said transmission, lever meansoperatively connected to said transmission, support means disposed belowsaid floor for mounting said lever means for longitudinal and lateralmovement in conditioning said transmission for different speeds, anopening formed in said floor through which said lever means extends, aunitary block-like insulator of resilient material secured to said floorto seal said opening to reduce the transmissIon of sound energytherethrough, said insulator extending upward from said floor andterminating in an upper portion having an upwardly extending passageformed therethrough for receiving said lever means, said passage beingsmaller in cross-section than the cross-section of said lever toperipherally surround and grip said lever means at points above saidfloor means so that vibratory energy imparted to said lever means isconverted into heat by the internal damping of said insulator
 3. Incombination, a control lever, support means for mounting said lever formovement to predetermined positions, a partition disposed above saidsupport means having an opening through which said control leverextends, a sound-attenuating and vibration-damping insulator fixed inand completely closing said opening for reducing the transmission ofsound therethrough, said insulator being a block of resilient foammaterial extending upwardly from said partition having an upwardlyextending opening therein which extends peripherally around a portion ofsaid lever to yieldably grip said portion of the lever at points abovesaid support means for damping vibrations imparted thereto, fastenermeans securing said insulator to said floor and elastomeric boot meansdisposed around said opening and said insulator and secured to saidlever to provide a protective covering therefor.
 4. In combination, atransmission, a control lever operatively connected to saidtransmission, support means mounting said lever for limited movement, apartition, an opening in said partition through which said leverextends, a unitary block-like insulator of resilient material fixed tosaid partition for closing said opening to reduce the passage of soundfrom said transmission and the areas beneath the partition to the areaabove said partition, said insulator extending upwardly from saidpartition and having an elongated neck portion disposed above saidpartition through which said lever extends, said neck portion having across-sectional shape that in a relaxed state is smaller in area thanthe cross-sectional shape of said lever which yieldably grips said leverto permit said lever to be moved to various predetermined positions tochange the speed ratios of said transmission and to resiliently holdsaid lever in position to damp any vibrations imparted thereto by saidtransmission and other sources of vibratory energy, said lever beingformed from first and second portions, and resilient ring meansoperatively disposed between said first and second portions to transmita manual force applied to one end thereof and to damp vibrationsimparted to either of said portions.